Betta Water Parameters

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sdlTBfanUK 132

sdlTBfanUK 132

I am considering getting a betta, either for the existing fish tank, or I have a 15L which I could set up. Could someone please let me have preferred water parameters, ie GH, KH, PH, TDS ranges. I have been looking on the internet (other than this site) and getting well p*ssed off with reading loads of 'waffle' only to find it doesn't even give these basic details, so please, just the asked info, no explanations necessary at this early point!

I plan to put the fish in my long term tank, which uses (dechlorinated) tapwater, or an old 15L which is in the cupboard, but that will probably have the same water parameters as I will run it the same. Actually, sitting here looking at the 'Fish tank', probably too much water movement in there (I have never had a Betta in that tank).

I have tried Betta in the past (years ago) but not had much luck and they rarely lived more than 6 months, devastating as they have more character than most other fish, and as they are supposed to be easy to keep, I really don't know why this is? Anyway, start with what the parameters should be, that may stop me going any further?????

The water parameters for Betta are not specified because they can tolerate a very wide range. Hence people keeping them in jars with nothing but dechlorinated tap water.

However if you are looking for ideal parameters, I would keep they in soft water.

That is

pH: 6.5 - 6.8

Temp: 25degC or 78degF.

KH: 3-5

GH: 6-8

TDS: doesn't really matter. These guys can live in crap water (not that you should aim for crap water). But I would aim for under 350 like for all my other softwater fish.

Most important thing is to give them a tank that is well cycled and has low flow. They do not prefer a strong filter and flow. Some floating plants will also help them build bubble nests if you have females (note the plural. 1 female is not enough and will get harassed). If you are putting the betta in a 15L, then I would avoid females in the same tank until you see him building a nest.

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sdlTBfanUK 132

sdlTBfanUK 132

Thanks JayC for the reply and finally what I wanted to know. I don't use internet much, but if I do I soon remember why I don't - not this site though which is why it is the only one I have joined!

The Kh and Gh are a bit low on my tap water fish tank which would run the same but I could get some Gh/Kh+ to increase that (maybe that was why I did.t have much luck with them in the past) each needing +2 so that should be fairly easy fix with salty shrimp or dennerle GH/KH+ drops. TDS is 225 so adding +2GH would take that to about 260-280(ish) so looks like that also would be ok. The Ph with the drops shows as 7, though that obviously means it is more than 6.5 but less than 7.5 as the drop kits only goes per .5 differences, but I would add catappa leaves as I have those and betta are supposed to like them and it may reduce the PH slightly anyway, so that looks near enough for thumbs up as well.

I am not interested in breeding so would just get the one male. That tank has a ridiculously slow filter/flow system (well it did last time I used it) so that also would be perfect I think.

If I use water/plants/lava rock etc from the Fishtank, how long do you think I should run the tank before I consider getting the fish if you say 'well cycled'? I need to check if I have everything like heater/filter sponge/timer/extension cable etc before I can go any further yet (I will try and do that later), but otherwise from your reply I think it should be do-able. I guess using a tiny bit of Bacter AE as well at the start will help with the cycling, or will it be a good idea to use it all the time (I have it for the shrimp tank anyway so could do both tanks at the same time) I only dose that twice a week a lot less than recommended?

THE OTHER QUESTION I NEED TO CONSIDER OF COARSE IS ONE WE HAVE ALL HAD, PROBABLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS, DO I REALLY WANT ANOTHER TANK TO RUN AND MAINTAIN???????????????

You seem to have right strategies to bring the parameters into line. GH/KH is flexible if you can't reach those numbers exactly.

pH and TDS however, should be the priorities.

14 hours ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

If I use water/plants/lava rock etc from the Fishtank, how long do you think I should run the tank before I consider getting the fish if you say 'well cycled'?

That's not for me to say. I would just be taking a guess. A guess at how fast the beneficial bacteria multiply. Only way to determine if a tank is cycled is to test ammonia levels with a test kit. However, it will certainly be a lot quicker if you re-use stuff from an existing mature tank. Fastest way is to re-use the filter media from an existing tank, the dirtier the better. I wash my filters in new tanks - yes, it makes a visual mess in the new tank. But once the debris settles, the tank is well on its way to being cycled. Give the tank a warm 26-28 degreesC and the tank will be cycled in a week by washing your old filter in the new tank. As good as Bacter AE is, it cannot compete with re-using old media.

(Don't forget to reduce the temps to the right level before adding any livestock)

14 hours ago, sdlTBfanUK said:

THE OTHER QUESTION I NEED TO CONSIDER OF COARSE IS ONE WE HAVE ALL HAD, PROBABLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS, DO I REALLY WANT ANOTHER TANK TO RUN AND MAINTAIN

I cannot help you there. I am in denial about suffering the same illness myself.

I have cut down by 2 tanks this year. And I'm already thinking ..."I have more space now, and 2 empty tanks. I wonder what I can put in them?".

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sdlTBfanUK 132

sdlTBfanUK 132

I did the weekly maintenance of the FISH tank today and have kept the old water (sponges were rinsed in it so nice and dirty) while I mull everything over.

I checked the cupboards and have everything except an electrical adaptor - cheap and easy enough to get! Main thing now is whether I can re-arrange stuff to make room for the 15L tank near the new shrimp tank (probably wait until friends come round for that), as when I used it before it was on the dining table and that wasn't a good idea at all - always in the way etc, but it was only a TRIAL shrimp tank at that time?

I feel more confident it should be possible thanks to all your helpful advice! Thanks for taking the time to do this JayC.

Simon

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sdlTBfanUK 132

sdlTBfanUK 132

Sorry to revisit this after so long but I am about ready to take this leap now! The taiwan bee tank filter was leaking water onto the piece of furniture it would share with a betta tank so I slammed the brakes on the betta idea, but the leak doesn't seem to have affected the wooden unit?

I have decided I would get a 25 litre tank (just 1 betta, male or female) and use the JBL proscape soil that I have a spare bag of!

Q1 - I do weekly maintenance on my tanks so how much water should I change on a weekly basis, it will have a sponge filter system (may need to reduce the flow somehow?), some snails and cull cherry shrimps?

I plan to use dechlorinated tap water and can add GH+ and KH+ to alter (increase if necessary) to the aforementioned JayC parameters, would use Indian Almond Leaves and the soil substrate and catappa bark/logs, plants etc.One problem here maybe the inconsistency of the water parameters:-

current, PH7.5, GH4-5. KH2-3, TDS 167

October 2018 PH7.5, GH5-6, KH4-5, TDS 185

October 2017 PH7, GH5-6, KH3-4, TDS 162

Q2 - Do you think this water will be ok to use as is, I assume the PH will be lowered by the soil and IAL etc, or do you think I should adjust the GH & KH with drops? Or is this water too fluctuating in parameters to be even tried, and should go the remineralised RO route?

I have mastered the taiwan bee shrimps so now this will be my next 'project'. I apologise for what may seem silly questions but before I get started I need to feel confident it will work, especially as I have failed numerous times to keep betta, which are supposed to be EASY/HARDY and I have no idea why they died before???????

Q3 - I was planning to set the soil going in a bucket (no filter etc) for the first 2 weeks with the recommended water changes every 2-3 days (keep it in the bathroom etc) before it goes into the tank. Can I just use straightTapwater, or do I need to use dechlorinator for these water changes?

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